Rootbound Crag MTG Card


Enhances mana stability, reducing mulligans and preserving card hand count. Synergy with red and green spells, offering untapped mana under conditions. Conditionally entering untapped makes it less flexible but strategically vital.
Card setsReleased in 19 setsSee all
RarityRare
TypeLand

Text of card

Rootbound Crag enters the battlefield tapped unless you control a Mountain or a Forest. : Add or to your mana pool.


Cards like Rootbound Crag

Rootbound Crag is a standout land card in Magic: The Gathering, playing a pivotal role in mana fixing for red and green multi-colored decks. Its closest relatives in functionality are the ‘check lands’ like Sunpetal Grove and Glacial Fortress. All check for the presence of basic land types before they can enter the battlefield untapped, granting them a flexible role in deck building. Rootbound Crag, in particular, aligns well with strategies favoring the combination of speed and color stability.

Another card worth mentioning is Stomping Ground. Although it’s a shock land that can be paid 2 life to enter untapped, it’s also a forest and a mountain and therefore allows Rootbound Crag to enter untapped without any additional conditions. Cards such as Karplusan Forest also provide similar color mana but at a cost. It produces either red or green mana without entering tapped but deals damage to its controller, leading to a strategic decision related to life resources.

In conclusion, while each land offers unique benefits and trade-offs, Rootbound Crag holds a valuable place in MTG as a dependable land option, perfectly marrying accessibility with the necessary speed for competitive gameplay in red and green decks.

Sunpetal Grove - MTG Card versions
Glacial Fortress - MTG Card versions
Stomping Ground - MTG Card versions
Karplusan Forest - MTG Card versions
Sunpetal Grove - MTG Card versions
Glacial Fortress - MTG Card versions
Stomping Ground - MTG Card versions
Karplusan Forest - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Rootbound Crag by color, type and mana cost

Taiga - MTG Card versions
Karplusan Forest - MTG Card versions
Mogg Hollows - MTG Card versions
Shivan Oasis - MTG Card versions
Mossfire Valley - MTG Card versions
Rockfall Vale - MTG Card versions
Contested Cliffs - MTG Card versions
Skarrg, the Rage Pits - MTG Card versions
Stomping Ground - MTG Card versions
Highland Weald - MTG Card versions
Fungal Reaches - MTG Card versions
Fire-Lit Thicket - MTG Card versions
Gruul Turf - MTG Card versions
Kazandu Refuge - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolf Run - MTG Card versions
Gruul Guildgate - MTG Card versions
Cinder Glade - MTG Card versions
Timber Gorge - MTG Card versions
Game Trail - MTG Card versions
Rugged Highlands - MTG Card versions
Taiga - MTG Card versions
Karplusan Forest - MTG Card versions
Mogg Hollows - MTG Card versions
Shivan Oasis - MTG Card versions
Mossfire Valley - MTG Card versions
Rockfall Vale - MTG Card versions
Contested Cliffs - MTG Card versions
Skarrg, the Rage Pits - MTG Card versions
Stomping Ground - MTG Card versions
Highland Weald - MTG Card versions
Fungal Reaches - MTG Card versions
Fire-Lit Thicket - MTG Card versions
Gruul Turf - MTG Card versions
Kazandu Refuge - MTG Card versions
Kessig Wolf Run - MTG Card versions
Gruul Guildgate - MTG Card versions
Cinder Glade - MTG Card versions
Timber Gorge - MTG Card versions
Game Trail - MTG Card versions
Rugged Highlands - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Rootbound Crag. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Niv to LightNiv to Light PioneerNiv to LightPioneer Challenge 32 2024-04-21

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Rootbound Crag doesn’t directly provide card advantage, but as a land that can potentially tap for two types of mana, it allows for a smoother play of multicolored hands, reducing the need for mulligans and therefore preserving card quantity in hand.

Resource Acceleration: While Rootbound Crag itself doesn’t accelerate resources like a ramp spell, it does enter the battlefield untapped if you control a Mountain or a Forest, which is instrumental in ensuring that your mana base keeps up with your spell curve without losing tempo.

Instant Speed: As a land, Rootbound Crag isn’t played at instant speed, but its ability to provide mana for either color instantly without coming into play tapped (under the right conditions) is invaluable for casting spells at crucial moments without delay.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: This land enters the battlefield tapped unless you control a Mountain or a Forest, which may slow down your gameplay if you are unable to meet this requirement early on.

Specific Mana Cost: Rootbound Crag provides specific colored mana (Red and Green), which restricts its flexibility in decks that could benefit from a more varied mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Compared to basic lands, Rootbound Crag might seem like it has a “higher cost” in the sense that it has a conditional requirement to enter untapped, potentially setting you back a turn if you can’t satisfy the conditions straightaway.


Reasons to Include Rootbound Crag in Your Collection

Versatility: Rootbound Crag is a valuable land card that can seamlessly slot into any deck that runs both red and green mana. Its ability to provide either color of mana without coming into play tapped (under the right conditions) makes it a flexible choice for a multitude of deck builds, from aggro to control.

Combo Potential: This card allows you to streamline your mana base when using multicolor combos within the red and green spectrum. It serves as an ideal setup for powerful plays without slowing down your tempo, a key component in optimally executing your strategy.

Meta-Relevance: With a dynamic and ever-shifting meta, having a stable mana foundation is crucial. Rootbound Crag provides this stability for red and green decks, ensuring they remain competitive. Given its recurrence in various competitive formats, Rootbound Crag holds its ground in adapting to the meta’s demands.


How to beat

Rootbound Crag is a potent land card in Magic: The Gathering, prized for its capacity to provide mana of two different colors without coming into play tapped, under the right conditions. This card shines in multi-colored decks, giving players the flexibility to cast a variety of spells efficiently. To successfully navigate against a deck utilizing Rootbound Crag, it’s essential to focus on land disruption strategies.

Employing cards that hamper or destroy your opponent’s lands can be a key tactic. Field of Ruin stands out as a straightforward way to target this valuable land, offering a way to exchange it for a basic land and potentially disrupting their mana base. Ghost Quarter provides a similar function, with the added benefit of not providing your opponent with a land search opportunity. Another effective strategy is to take advantage of cards like Blood Moon that can restrict the abilities of nonbasic lands, converting them into basic Mountains and nullifying their advantages.

By implementing these strategies and cards within your gameplay, you can counteract the benefits that Rootbound Crag offers, tilting the scales in your favor and increasing your chances of victory against decks that rely on its mana-fixing prowess.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Rootbound Crag MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2010 and Premium Deck Series: Slivers, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Rootbound Crag and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Rootbound Crag Magic the Gathering card was released in 12 different sets between 2009-07-17 and 2024-03-08. Illustrated by 5 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12009-07-17Magic 2010M10 2272003NormalBlackMatt Stewart
22009-11-20Premium Deck Series: SliversH09 322003NormalBlackMatt Stewart
32010-07-16Magic 2011M11 2272003NormalBlackMatt Stewart
42011-07-15Magic 2012M12 2282003NormalBlackMatt Stewart
52012-07-13Magic 2013M13 2282003NormalBlackMatt Stewart
62016-11-11Commander 2016C16 3172015NormalBlackMatt Stewart
72017-09-29Ixalan PromosPXLN 256p2015NormalBlackGrzegorz Rutkowski
82017-09-29IxalanXLN 2562015NormalBlackGrzegorz Rutkowski
92017-09-29Ixalan PromosPXLN 256s2015NormalBlackGrzegorz Rutkowski
102019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 4592015NormalBorderlessMatt Jukes
112020-09-26The ListPLST M10-2272003NormalBlackMatt Stewart
122023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 3002015NormalBlackJeremy Paillotin
132023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 5112015NormalBlackJeremy Paillotin
142023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 8912015NormalBlackJeremy Paillotin
152023-10-13Doctor WhoWHO 11022015NormalBlackJeremy Paillotin
162024-03-08FalloutPIP 10322015NormalBlackSamuele Bandini
172024-03-08FalloutPIP 8122015NormalBlackSamuele Bandini
182024-03-08FalloutPIP 2842015NormalBlackSamuele Bandini
192024-03-08FalloutPIP 5042015NormalBlackSamuele Bandini

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Rootbound Crag has restrictions

FormatLegality
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Rootbound Crag card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2009-10-01 As this is entering the battlefield, it checks for lands that are already on the battlefield. It won't see lands that are entering the battlefield at the same time (due to Warp World, for example).
2009-10-01 This checks for lands you control with the land type Mountain or Forest, not for lands named Mountain or Forest. The lands it checks for don't have to be basic lands. For example, if you control Temple Garden (a nonbasic land with the land types Forest and Plains), Rootbound Crag will enter the battlefield untapped.